Remote AI Data Integration Specialist

Thank you for considering IT Concepts dba Kentro, where innovation drives opportunity and collaboration leads to success. Our dynamic community of experts is fully committed to advancing our customers' missions, fostering professional growth, and making a positive impact on our communities.                                                

By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development. Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is hiring an experienced AI Data Integration Specialist to support our VA-ESOM- End Point Support and Operations Monitoring contract across the United States. The VA is responsible for providing comprehensive onsite and remote support to IT customers across all VA Administrations and special program offices, including direct support of over 340,000 VA employees and thousands of contractors who use government-furnished IT equipment and infrastructure. The VA provides support staff across 100+ CONUS and OCONUS locations, including difficult-to-accommodate locales, such as high cost of living or under-supported economic areas, where VA offices or facilities may be located and require onsite services.

About OTG: The Operations Triage Group (OTG) provides expert engineering and data science support to VA OIT Senior Leadership (CIO, PDAS, SES) for the 100 most critical VA systems (C-100). We deliver strategic intelligence through major incident triage, daily executive briefings, and operational insights that directly impact Veterans’ access to healthcare and benefits.

Position Overview: The AI Data Integration Specialist serves as a technical expert responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing data pipelines that enable AI/ML capabilities within mission-critical federal IT operations. Working closely with the AI Solutions Architect, you will transform raw operational data into AI-ready assets while ensuring data quality, governance, and compliance. This is a hands-on technical role requiring deep expertise in data engineering, ML pipelines, and integration architecture. You will assess complex data landscapes, identify gaps, design integration solutions, and demonstrate clear ROI for AI initiatives that directly impact Veterans’ access to healthcare and benefits.

Location: Remote within the US supporting ET working hours.

Responsibilities:

Data Source Evaluation & Gap Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of existing data sources to determine fitness for AI/ML applications
• Perform gap analysis identifying data quality issues, completeness problems, and integration challenges
• Evaluate data source reliability, consistency, and availability for operational AI use cases
• Document data lineage, dependencies, and transformation logic for governance and auditability
• Assess technical debt and recommend remediation strategies for data infrastructure improvements

Data Governance & Standards

• Implement metadata tagging standards ensuring discoverability and traceability across data assets
• Apply data classification schemes aligned with federal security requirements and VA policies
• Establish and enforce minimal data standards for AI/ML readiness across operational systems
• Collaborate with Chief AI Office (CAIO) and data governance teams on compliance requirements
• Design data cataloging approaches that support self-service discovery for analytics and AI teams

ML Operations & Value Demonstration

• Support ML model development by preparing training datasets with appropriate feature engineering
• Build and maintain data infrastructure supporting ML experimentation, training, and deployment
• Implement data versioning and lineage tracking for ML reproducibility and auditability
• Calculate and communicate ROI for data integration initiatives, demonstrating value through operational metrics
• Identify opportunities where improved data integration can accelerate AI adoption or enhance model performance

Stakeholder Collaboration & Technical Communication

• Partner with SREs, Data Scientists, and Analytics teams to understand data requirements and constraints
• Translate technical data challenges into understandable terms for government stakeholders
• Provide technical guidance on data feasibility for proposed AI initiatives
• Document data integration patterns, best practices, and lessons learned for knowledge sharing
• Support executive briefings by providing data-driven insights on AI readiness and capability gaps

• Master’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or related technical field. 10 years of relevant experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
• 10+ years professional experience in data engineering, data integration, or ML operations roles.
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing data pipelines for analytics or AI/ML applications.
• Demonstrated experience working with enterprise data integration challenges in complex technical environments.
• Federal government experience, particularly within VA or Department of Defense.

Technical Expertise

• Strong ML/AI experience with understanding of data requirements for model training, validation, and inference
• Proficiency in data ingestion and preparation techniques including ETL/ELT pipeline development
• Experience with data pipeline orchestration tools and frameworks (Azure, Data Factory, or similar)
• Understanding of metadata tagging standards and data cataloging approaches
• Knowledge of data classification schemes and minimal data standards for AI/ML readines
• Expertise in data source evaluation methodologies including quality assessment and gap analysis
• Strong understanding of data flows, system integrations, and API-based data exchange patterns
• Experience with cloud data platforms (Azure preferred) and hybrid cloud/on-premise integration patterns
• Familiarity with ITSM platforms (ServiceNow preferred) and operational data structures
• Proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language (Python preferred) for data transformation

Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

• Expert-level gap analysis capabilities with ability to identify root causes and recommend solutions
• Strong analytical mindset for assessing data quality, completeness, and fitness for purpose
• Critical thinking to evaluate trade-offs between data quality, cost, and timeline constraints
• Systems thinking to understand data dependencies and downstream impacts of integration decisions
• Ability to calculate and articulate ROI for data initiatives using operational metrics and business value

Communication & Collaboration Skills

• Ability to explain technical data concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong documentation skills for technical specifications, data flows, and integration patterns
• Collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams (SRE, Data Science, Analytics)
• Experience supporting executive communications with data-driven insights

Personal Attributes

• Curious: Continuously explores data landscapes to understand what exists, what’s missing, and what’s possible
• High Contextual Understanding: Grasps the operational meaning and business significance behind data, not just technical structure
• Confident with Gap Analysis: Comfortable identifying problems, articulating impacts, and proposing solutions
• Detail-Oriented: Maintains precision in data quality assessment and integration design
• Pragmatic: Balances ideal solutions with operational constraints and realistic timelines
• Mission-Focused: Connects data work to Veteran impact and VA mission outcomes
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep experience with ServiceNow data models, APIs, and integration patterns
• Prior work with Chief AI Office (CAIO) or federal data governance processes
• Experience with Azure AI services and Azure data platform tools (Synapse, Data Factory, Databricks)
• Knowledge of federal data standards and compliance frameworks
• Experience with data quality tools and automated data profiling
• Background in reliability engineering, SRE practices, or IT operations data
• Certifications in data engineering, cloud platforms, or ML operations
• Experience working in distributed, remote teams

Clearance requirement:

• US Citizen or Green card holder
• Willing and able to get a Public Trust Suitability clearance
• Must meet updated ID requirements: Bring required documents | GSA
• If you do not currently meet the ID requirements outlined, you must be willing and able to update your current forms of ID in a timely manner to complete the suitability process successfully. 

The Company

We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge. With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact. As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions. We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015) and two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC).

Industry Recognition

Growth | Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, DC Metro List Fastest Growing; Washington Business Journal: Fastest Growing Companies, Top Performing Small Technology Companies in Greater D.C.

Culture | Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 Honoree; Virginia Best Place to Work; Washington Business Journal: Best Places to Work, Corporate Diversity Index Winner – Mid-Size Companies, Companies Owned by People of Color; Department of Labor’s HireVets for our work helping veterans transition; SECAF Award of Excellence finalist; Victory Military Friendly Brand; Virginia Values Veterans (V3); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Corporate Breath Award

Benefits

We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more.  We invest in our employees – Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development.  Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations. We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking. We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

We work hard; we play hard. Kentro is committed to incorporating fun into every day. We dedicate funds for activities – virtual and in-person – e.g., we host happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations. In alignment with our commitment to our communities, we also host and attend charity galas/events. We believe in appreciating your commitment and building a positive workspace for you to be creative, innovative, and happy.

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity. We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans. This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.

We encourage protected veterans to self-identify during the application process. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used for reporting and compliance purposes as required by law. Providing this information is voluntary and will not impact your employment eligibility.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity extends beyond legal compliance. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees, including protected veterans, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

How to Apply

To apply to Kentro Positions- Please click on the: “Apply for this Job” button at the bottom of this Job Description or the button at the top: “Application.”  Please upload your resume and complete all the application steps. You must submit the application for Kentro to consider you for a position.  If you need alternative application methods, please email [email protected] and request assistance.  

Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you need to discuss reasonable accommodations, please email [email protected].  

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